Good Robot

Good Robot is a 2D scrolling shooter with procedurally generated labyrinths. The game is set in 2031 where unchecked pollution has rendered Earth's surface uninhabitable. A company called PyroCorp built massive underground cities for the people, serviced by intelligent robots. However, something went wrong; the robots went berserk and now intend to kill all humans. PyroCorp's last resort is the last Good Robot controlled by the player, a robot sent inside to take out the mechanical threat so peace can be brought back.

The game uses many roguelike elements with randomized environments and enemies for each session. Many types of upgrades can be purchased and last for a single game. Apart from a single continue that can be bought, there is permadeath and the entire game has to be replayed after dying. In typical twin stick shooter fashion the robot can fly in any direction, while shooting can also be done in any direction independent from movement. There are always two types of weapons equipped with an unlimited amount of ammo. The primary weapon is often used to shoot quickly, while the secondary one is slower or needs to be charged, but with more impact. The starting weapons can be replaced by those left behind by enemies or are purchased with the currency. There are cannons, rivet guns, blasters, missiles, lasers, flamethrowers, grenade launchers, bombs and so on to suit different playing styles, but additional ones cannot be carried along.

Each of the seven levels consists of multiple mazes. To complete a maze not all enemies need to be defeated, the robot only needs to locate the exit. In the exit area there are often multiple passages to leave and an icon shows which type of level it is. The icons show a hint of the environment and the enemies, but there are also cash levels with more chances to earn additional money. At the end of each maze a blue or red station can be found at random. In blue PyroCorp Upgrade Stations the currency earned by defeating enemies can be spent on upgrades for attack power, rate of fire, movement speed, shields, vision radius, a coin magnet, a compass, a laser guide and so on. With each purchased upgrade the next one becomes more expensive, regardless of the category, so strategic choices need to be made. Red PyroCorp Weapon Stores offer new types of weapons, warranty (a continue) and shield repair (restore health).

A careful approach is needed as the robot only has a small amount of health. Some enemies have very powerful attacks and explode upon contact. There are also levels where the maze walls do damage. The robot only has a limited amount of vision represented through a cone. When parts of the maze obscure the view or when not in the cone, enemies are not visible. Some levels are dark in addition to that. There is no way to restore health except for shield repair at the weapon store. That is expensive and takes away chance to purchase upgrades, so a careful approach is always rewarded. After every few levels a boss needs to be fought and then a passage can be found to move on to the next level. At the start of each level there is a yellow PyroCorp hat store where different types of hats can be bought. There are cheap, protect against the first hit and can be carried across levels if they are not lost.